Marginalia Monday -- Born of the Spirit

When I was seven or eight, my dad used to pay my sister and me to pick dandelions in the yard.  We got one penny for yellow dandelions and a whopping TWO cents for white, fluffy ones.  My dad paid us more for the white flowers (he called them weeds) because they were bursting with seeds ready to fly away with the slightest breeze.  My dad wanted us to pick the white, fluffy dandelions so these seeds could not spread to the rest of his yard and grow more dandelions wherever they landed.  He knew that the wind could carry that dandelion's life and create new life all around it.  

In John chapter 3, Jesus explained how the Holy Spirit works.  He said, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."  My dad couldn't see the wind, but he could see the dandelion seeds spreading and sprouting throughout his lawn.  We can't see the Holy Spirit, but we can see His work in our lives as He sends us out to spread the good news of everlasting life with God.

Through the Lens Thursday -- Waterproofing Photography at Its Finest

I love Maine.  I love the bright blue skies and fluffy, cottony clouds.  I love the rustic pines and see-to-the-bottom lakes.  I love everything about this state, and I'm so thankful to have visited this summer.  I knew that I had to capture the peaceful, pine-smelling, blueberry-blue tranquility of the lake, but I was a tad nervous about taking my camera on a canoe ride because cameras don't grow on trees, and if this one ended up swimming with the loons, I might have a tricky time convincing my hubby to buy another.  Also, I have a vivid image of my aunt flailing in the water next to a canoe with a camera over her head.  Here she is after the fall.

Thankfully, my aunt's flailing limbs were not in vain.  My hubby and I came up with a super simple system (alliteration!) to keep the camera safe on the water in-between photos.  First, we placed the camera in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and zipped it closed to seal out the water.  Next, we placed the bag in a Tupperware container and sealed the lid.  I tested the container on the water's surface, letting it go ever so slightly before the lake assured me that the camera contraption would, indeed, float.  Then I caught the camera and packed it in the canoe.  I am so excited with how this lake picture turned out, and I can happily assure any naysayers that my camera was secure, dry, and floaty.  I can't wait for my next on-the-water photography adventure!

Weight Loss Wednesday -- One Week Down!

Today was my one-week weigh-in, and . . . drum roll . . . I lost three pounds.  My buddy did the same!  Since I spent the majority of the week sitting in a car on vacation, I consider this a wild success.  Since not every week will excite me like the first, I decided to set up some motivation for when the scale slows down.  I found motivation from each of the following categories:

1.  Aesthetic --  I have my favorite dress hanging where I can see it.  I love this dress, and I can't wait until I fit into it.  Right now it won't even scooch up over my hips, but by October 15, I plan to zip it right up and wear it in style.

2.  Nostalgic --  I installed the TimeHop app on my phone, so every morning I see photos of myself from years gone by.  The majority of these photos are from my slim-livin' college years, and seeing myself as I could look motivates me to look that way again.

3.  Physical --  A couple of weeks ago, I went to a trampoline park with a few friends.  The park had a ninja course with a trampoline wall, and all of my friends made it over the wall in just a couple of bounds.  I jumped.  I ran.  I lunged.  I jumped again.  I ran again.  I lunged again.  I could not make it over the wall.  Twenty minutes later, after many trampoline burns and gray vision warps, I finally strained myself over that pathetic, seven-foot wall.  I ended victorious, but I felt pretty weak.  I want to feel strong.  I bought a couple of dumbbells and set them in my living room, right near the T.V.  Now when I sit down to watch a show, I see the weights, think of the trampoline wall, and get back up again.  I will be strong!

4.  Professional -- Since I "wrote" my first book at five years old, complete with stick-figure drawings and crayon scribbles, I have dreamed of the day when I would get a book published and sold in the real world. About a year ago, I received word that my recent manuscript, That Was Random, had been accepted for publication.  It was a pixie-dust-esque moment.  The book is scheduled for an October release, and I have begun planning a release party, which I plan to have photographed extensively because I want to remember this day forever.  It could be the most thrilling professional accomplishment I ever achieve.  Not only do I want to look respectable (and wear my favorite dress) at the party, but I also want my personal achievements to match my professional success. 

5.  Fun -- My hubby and I brought out our bicycles this week, and I can't wait to start using them!  When I don't feel like working out, I can get on the bike and just have fun.  We also started heading to our apartment complex's pool, where I can burn a lot of calories without boring myself to tears.  Fun activities like these motivate me to get moving, and moving means losing!  And losing means winning!

We'll see how week 2 goes, but for now I'm feeling positive.  What do you use to stay motivated throughout a diet?

Marginalia Monday -- Filthy Rags

Today's Bible pages got a little bit . . . sticky.  I read the verse that says, "our righteousness is as filthy rags," and I really wanted to portray the yuckiness and messiness of our own attempts at righteousness.  I ended up throwing some butterscotch, honey, nutmeg, food coloring, and actual rags onto this page of Isaiah.  I'll have to say this method really makes a Bible verse "stick" in my mind (haha :p), and I'm excited about remembering this important verse.

Everything I do to try to be good is useless.  Only God's grace can save me.  Thankfully, His righteousness is all I need.  What a wonderful thought to get me going through this Monday. :)

Through the Lens Thursday -- My Summer Photography Challenge!

As two teachers, my hubby and I travel as much as possible during the few summer weeks between school, meetings, classes, and other obligations.  This summer, my travel goal is to improve my photography.  I have a Nikon 3200, and I hate to admit that I spent the first year of prestigious ownership shooting photos in *gasp* auto mode.  I have since repented and flipped that small, round switch to manual, but only practice will perfect my sometimes-black-sometimes-white-sometimes-an-actual-image photographs.  My mom and I came up with a perfect practice plan for this summer’s travels.  I have a list of 10 images that I MUST capture in each state I visit this summer.  Here’s the list.  Wish me luck!

Weight Loss Wednesday -- Here Goes Somethin'!

After successfully avoiding the Freshman Fifteen, the Sophomore Seventeen, the Junior Jellybelly, and the Senior Sag, I got married and gained thirty-five pounds almost immediately.  I am officially “overweight” on most charts I look at (although I did find one chart that said I am on the heavy side of healthy, which is quite a complement these days, and I’ll take it!).  I have decided I much preferred the energy I had pre-pudge, and I quite enjoyed picking out outfits before the belly.  I miss climbing stairs without a care in the world, and I have determined to return to my happy weight.  A buddy (also recently married) and I have agreed to go at this weight-slashing together, so here’s the plan:

1200 Calories / Day (Raw Fruits and Veggies are Free)

5 30-min. Workouts / Week (Workouts Meaning Not Sitting on the Couch)

We’re hoping to jazz it up along the way, so be prepared for cheesy motivational tricks and wacky workout ideas.  Here’s a before photo to get it started:

Let's hope for some dramatic results!

Marginalia Monday -- My Bible Art Journaling Adventure!

Several months ago, while browsing Pinterest like all industrious wives should do, I stumbled upon a Bible study method that both surprised and intrigued me.  I followed the pins to a blog by Shanna Noel, who has founded the “Illustrated Faith” movement.  This method of Bible Study promotes writing in the margins of one’s Bible, throwing caution to the wind and expressing God’s Word artistically on the pages of His love letter to us.  He writes to us through the Bible, and we write to Him through the margins.  I love it!  I have since decided to devote my quiet time to this kind of creative communication with God, and I would love to share some of my pages in the hopes that others will try it as well.  The visual, hands-on aspects of Bible Art Journaling make Bible verses stick in my head like never before, and I can’t wait to make my way through the whole Bible in this way.  I will start sharing my pages in detail next week, but until then, here’s a sneak peek!